Tank drain valve



F. C. FANTZ ET AL TANK DRAIN VALVE Filed NOV. 5. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 \l 7 u 48 4 f I 26 28 3 "tor/Q 1) i 35 i 19 P $6 F. G. FANTZ ET AL TANK DRAIN VALVE Nov. 2 1926.

Filed Nov. :5. 1925 3 sheets-sheet 2 Nov. 2 I926. 1,605,105

F. c. FANTZ ET AL TANK DRAIN VALVE 4 Filed Nov. 5. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 44- ji 50 Z! 3 I6 33 r I a 22 Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

FRED C. IEANTZ AND HILLIS K. MCCULLUUGH, 015 TO THE TEXAS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N.

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PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, ASSIGNORS E, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS.

Application filed Novembet 3, 1923. Serial No. 672,551

. I This invention relates to mechanism for automatically withdrawing a liquid of one density from tanks containing liquids. of different densities. More particularly it pertains to apparatus for removing from a receptacle a heavier liquid at the bottom thereof without, however, drawing ed the lighter liquid.

The invention has special reference to the petroleum industry wherein it is" frequently necessary to withdraw from tanks, stills, or reservoirs containing oil, the water which i has accumulated in the bottom of such receptacles, and our invention will be described herein as applied to the oil industry,

7 it being understood that it is adapted for automatically withdrawing a relatively heavy liquid at the bottom of a tank or receptacle without removing the upper or 20 lighter liquid. I

One of the objects of this invention is to automatically drain of excessive quantities of liquid of a particular density from a receptacle containing liquids of more than one density.

Another object of the invention is to automaticall shut oil the flow of liquid from a receptac e containing liquids of difierent specific gravities when all or a predeter- 30 mined amount of liquid of a particular gravity has been drawn d.

A still further object of the invention isto provide apparatus for speedily and surely operating the valve actuating mechanism. 35 Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description there= of proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view partially in section, equipped with my invention.

Figure 2 is a view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3-is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figure A is a view taken on the line H of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a view of Fig. 3. Figure 6 is a view taken on the line M of Fig. 4:.

v Figure 7 is a view of Fig. 6.

in front elevation,

taken on the line 5 5 a float drum having an outlet 'municates with the of an oil receptaclev through the. valve. in side elevation taken taken on the line 7-? 25 which is threadedly connected to the cas- Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the valve shown in section in Fig. 4.

Figure 9 is a; view in section taken on the line '9-9 of Fig. A.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the 7 line 1()l0 of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates .11 communicating with the water space in a tank (not shown) and an outlet 12 communicating with the oil space in the tank. A pipe seetion 13 communicating with the interior of the float drum is provided, and the outer end ill:

of the pipe section is closed with a threaded cap 14. A relatively smaller pipe 15 compipe 13. The drum is shown filled with water (below) and oil (above), the water flowing into the pipes 13 and 15.

An internally tapered cylindrical valve casing 16 having an inlet port 17 is threadedly secured to the outer end of the pipe 15 and is in communication therewith. The valve casing is provided with a number of slots or openings 18 which serve as outlet ports and communicate with the outlet pipe 19 which is internally threaded as at 20 for the attachment of a water outlet pipe.

A cylindrical valve 2t having a tapered surface corresponding to the taper of the casing'lfi is mounted within the casing. The valve has a short extension 22 which during the movement of the valve is adapted to comein contact with an ofi-set 23 of the valve casing which. serves to limit the movement of the valve. The valve is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 2A to permit the necessary expansion and contraction in case there are variations in the temperature ot -the llquld passlng The valve is also provided with a plurality of slots or ports 25 which upon a given movement of the valve register with the ports 18 in the casing to permit the passage of water therefrom to the outlet l9. A number-of longitudinally extending ports til are dis osed in one end of the valve 21 through which the heated liquid entering the valve can flow whereby the temperature of the valve is maintalned substantially uniform throughout.

The valve casing is provided with a cap llllt) rot ing and which is ,provided with a central orifice, The valve 21 has a sleeve extension 27 cast integral therewith which extends throughthe orifice in the cap 26, and a stuifing box 28 and suitable packing material 29 are provided toform a tight oint between the sleeve and the cap. A spring 30 is pro .vided to maintain the" valve 21 securely seated within 'the tapered casing 16. The sleeve-27 has a flange portion 31 which serves as a seat for one end of the spring while the other endis'held" by the. cap 26. The valve has a number' of circumferential expansion slots 32.

A rotatable shaft 33 extends loosely through-the center of/th'e sleeve extension 27 and the valve 21; and one end thereof terminates within the pipe 13 and is supported in a journaled bearing 34. A strap or rod 35 g-threaded cap 37 is provided for closing the opening. The vertical movement of the float is guided by guide rods 38. At the. bottom of the float-there is a wnwardly projecting member 39. provided with a horizontally disposed pin 40. The pin 40 cooperates witha slot 41 in the end of the strap 35 in such a'manner that any vertical movement of the float is imparted to the stra 35which in turn rotates the operating sha t 33; v

A collar 42 is'rigidly secured to the dpposite end of the shaft 33 by means of a key 43. The collar has an extension arm 44 near the outer end of Which is a slot 45. Loosely mounted upon the shaft 33 is an- ."other collar 45 having an extension arm 46 o? the outer end of which is carried a weight 4 A third collar48 is rigidly attached to the sleeve extension27 of the valve 21 and the collar isprovided with anextensionor arm 49'havin'g a recess 50 throu h which the weighted arm 46 extends." he collar 48 is internally threaded at one end for engagement with similar threads onthe outer endofthe sleeve extension 27. A-set screw 51 is provided to prevent any movement of the collar on the sleeve. The weighted arm 46 is provided with a pin 52' which is adapted to engage within the slot 45 of the arm 44 and connection' is made between the weighted arm 46 and the valve operating j arm 49 by reason of the fact that the arm 49 extends through the recess 50 of the arm. 49. i V

a i The collar 48 is so arranged that it serves a twofold function. First, by reason of the extension 49 with which it is integral it provides a means'for openin an'dclosing- I ing screwed into the end of the collar to hold packing material 54 in position.

A fourth collar 55 having an extension arm 56 is mounted upon the extreme outer end of the shaft 33 and is held in .position by'the key 43. A counterweight 57 is slidabliy mounted upon the arm 56 in order that a justment can be made to compensate for variations in the gravity of the oil in the .drum 10. l

The action of the mechanism in both open-p ing and closing the valve 21 is substantially alike in both cases. As waterin the dome 1O accu'mulatesthe float 60 rises and on account of the connecting strap 35 between the float and the shaft 33 the shaft is caused to rotate. The collar 42 which is secured to the shaft 33 by the key 43 likewise rotates together with the arm 44 with which it is integral. Asthe arm 44 moves an end of the slot 45 engagesthe pin 52 causing the arm 46 to move'in the same direction. At the moment the weighted arm 46 passes its dead center line its movement is given added momentum by'reason of the weight 47. The moving arm 46 comes in contact with the valve operating arm 49 and the force of the moving weighted arm 46 operates to uickly turn the valve 21 in its casing where y the openings 25 are ,broughtinto register with the openin s 18 and the water then passes out throug the openings and through the outlet 19.

As the water in the. drum 10 subsides the float 60 drops and the shaft 33 is rotated in the opposite direction, whereby the several arms are moved and the valve 21 is closed in a manner. similar to thatdescribed during the opening" process. In each case the weighted arm provides the necessary impetus to insure the certain and quick-opening and closing of the valve. There are no initial movements of the valve correspond: ing to the movements of the float audit is not until there has been a certain predetermined movement that the movement of the float and the-accompanying rotation of the shaft is translated into amovement of the valve. with a quick movement either in closing or opening.

Apparatus of preferred form and construction has been illustrated and described .for the purpose of showing a way in which thisinvention may be practiced, but the inventive thought upon which this a plication is based is broader than this il ustra- 'tiv'e embodiment. It is, therefore, understood that the scope of. the invention jsaetr' When the valve does move it is I lll neoaroe not to be limited by this disclosure, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

What we claim is: 1. In combination with a receptacle containing liquid, a float disposed in the receptacle and buoyed up by the liquid, a

valve casing in communication with the receptacle, a valve in said casing, a rotatable shaft extending loosely through said casing and said valve and coaxial therewith, means secured at one end to said shaft and at. the opposite end pivotally connected to said float so that the rise and fall of the float imparts a rotary movement to said shaft, and means interconnecting the shaft and the valve for opening or closing the valve after a predetermined rise or fall of the float.

2. In combination with a receptacle containing liquid, a float disposed in the receptacle-and buoyed up by the liquid, a valve casing in communication with the receptacle, a closure member for one end of the valve casing and having a central opening, a valve in said casing having an extension of reduced diameter extending outwardly through the opening in the closure member, a valve operating arm secured on said extension outside said casing, and means operatively con nected to the float for imparting force to said arm to open or close the valve after a predetermined rise or fall of the float.

In combination with a receptacle containing liquid, a float disposed in said receptacle and buoyed up in said liquid, a valve casing in communication with said receptacle and having an off-set portion at one end thereof, a rotary valve in said casing having a partial extension at one end adapted to engage the off-set portion in the casing for limiting the rotation of the valve,

and means for operating said valvein accordance with a predetermined rise or fall of the float in the receptacle.

4. In combination with a receptacle containing liquid, a float in said receptacle buoyed up in the liquid, a valve casing in communication with said receptacle, a valve in said casing, a shaft extending through said casing and loosely through said valve, means secured to the inner end of said shaft and pivotally connected to said float for rotating said shaft with the rise and fall of the float, a weighted arm loosely mounted on said shaft outside the casing, means secured on' said shaft for actuating said arm, and means for imparting to said valve the force exerted by the" moving weighted arm to open or close the valve.

5. .In combination with a receptacle con taining liquid, a float in said receptacle buoyed up .by said liquid, an internally tapered cylindrical valve casing in communication at one end with said receptacle and having outlet ports therein, aclosure member for one end of the casing, a cylindrical rotary valve tapered externally to fit the casing and having ports adapted to register with those in the casing and an extension of restricted diameter extending outwardly through said closure member, a. rotatable shaft extending through said closure member and said casing, means connected at one end to said shaft and pivotally connected at the other end to the float so that the rise and fall of the float imparts a rotary movement to the shaft, and cooperating members on the outer end of said shaft and on the valve extension for opening and closing the valve in response to a predetermined rise or fall of the float.

6. In combination with a .receptacle containing liquid, a float in said receptacle, an internally tapered valve casing communicating at one end with the receptacle, a closure member having a central opening on the other end of the casing, a tapered rotary valve in said casing having an extension of less diameter than the larger end of the valve extending through the opening in said 010- sure member, resilient means disposed around the restricted portion of the valve stem within the casing for maintaining the valve in effective operative position, and independent means operatively connecting said float and said valve extension for opening and closing the valve in response to a predetermined rise and fall of the float.

7. In combination with a receptacle con-' taining liquid, a float in said receptacle, a valve casing in communication with the re- 'ceptacle, a float operated valve in said casing, means connected to said float and 00- operating means connected to said valve for quickly operating the valve after a 'predetermined rise or fall of the float.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 25th day of October, 1923.

. FRED C. FANIZ. H. K. MCCULLOUGH.

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